rAAV with chemically modified capsid

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to the field of gene therapy, i.e. gene delivery into target cells, tissue, organ and organism, and more particularly to gene delivery via viral vectors. The inventors showed that it is possible by chemical coupling to modulate the coupling of a ligand in the surface of the capsid of AAV, for example AAV2 and AAV3b. In particular, the present invention relates to a recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle having at least one primary amino group contained in the capsid proteins, chemically coupled with at least one ligand L, wherein coupling of said ligand L is implemented through a bond comprising a —CSNH— bond and an optionally substituted aromatic moiety. 
     Particularly, the inventors tested the chemical coupling of mannose ligand on AAV2 for subretinally injection to rats. The present invention further relates to a method for chemically coupling an Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vector particle with at least one ligand L and to a Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle obtained by said method as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising it and their corresponding medical use.

The present invention generally relates to the field of gene therapy,i.e. gene delivery into target cells, tissue, organ and organism, andmore particularly to gene delivery via viral vectors.

The present invention is more particularly dedicated to recombinantAdeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particles, chemically coupled ontheir capsid with at least one ligand and to a method for producing saidrecombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle. Furthermore,the present invention relates to the use of these recombinantAdeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particles as a therapeutic and/ordiagnostic means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gene therapy is more particularly considered in the present invention.Although gene therapy was originally developed to correct defectivegenes that underlie genetic diseases, today gene therapy can be used totreat a broad range of disorders including acquired diseases such ascancer, heart stroke or metabolic disorders. A common approach toaddress this issue involves the delivery of nucleic acids to thenucleus. These nucleic acids may then be inserted into the genome of thetargeted cell or may remain episomal. Delivery of a therapeutic nucleicacid to a subjects target cells can be carried out via numerous methods,including the use of viral vectors. Among the many viral vectorsavailable (e.g., retrovirus, lentivirus, adenovirus, and the like),adeno-associated virus (AAV) is gaining popularity as a versatile vectorin gene therapy, particularly for in vivo applications.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a member of the parvoviridae family. TheAAV genome is composed of a linear single-stranded DNA molecule whichcontains approximately 4.7 kilobases (kb) and consists of two major openreading frames encoding the non-structural Rep (replication) andstructural Cap (capsid) proteins.

Recombinant vectors derived from AAV are now becoming therapeuticproducts, and recently one of them has received market approval for thetreatment of a rare genetic disease (lipoprotein lipase deficiency).

Viral vectors derived from adeno-associated viruses (AAV) have indeedbecome the tool of choice for in vivo gene transfer, mainly because oftheir superior efficiency in vivo, compared to other vectors, theirtropism for a broad variety of tissues, and their excellent safetyprofile. Therapeutic efficacy following AAV vector gene transfer wasdocumented in several preclinical studies and, over the past decade,some of these results were successfully translated to the clinic,leading to some of the most exciting results in the field of genetherapy. The recent market approval of the first AAV-based gene therapyproduct in Europe constitutes additional evidence that the field isprogressing from proof-of-concept studies toward clinical development.

However, most clinical trials using AAV as vehicle for transgenes showedits critical limitations: (i) its reduced therapeutic index (i.e. highdoses of vectors are usually required to achieve therapeutic efficacy);(ii) its broad biodistribution; (iii) and its poor efficacy in thepresence of pre-existing neutralizing antibodies.

One limitation of AAV lies indeed in their broad tropism, which resultsin transgene expression in other tissues other than those wheretransgene expression is desired. It is also well recognized that hostand vector-related immune challenges need to be overcome for long-termgene transfer.

Most of the gene therapy applications to date have used the serotype 2(AAV2). Transduction of a wide range of post-mitotic cells in vivo suchas muscle cells, hepatocytes or neurons in mammals partly explains itspopularity. This serotype has also been used for gene transfer to themuscle and liver in clinical trials for Hemophilia B and the retina fortreating Leber Congenital Amaurosis.

However there are still complications and limitations with the use ofthis vector. First, high doses of the vector are usually required sincetransduction efficacy in vivo is generally low, resulting in increasedtoxicity. One of the most important complication is due to the fact that50-90% of the human population is seropositive for AAV2 and hasdeveloped neutralizing antibodies (NAb) against AAV2 that impair genedelivery. The discovery of naturally occurring AAV isolates (from 1 to12) in humans and animals species and the genetic modification of thecapsid of these AAV serotypes using molecular tools resulted inpromising results in preclinical animals models and phase I/II clinicaltrials, which foster exciting clinical translation in the near future.However their therapeutic index remains low, which implies that highconcentration of them still needs to be administered with concomitantadverse effects. At the same time, manufacturing clinical lots of AAVvectors has considerably progressed in the past decade and large scalemanufacturing methods are now available for the preindustrialpharmaceutical stage in which gene therapy is entering. Nonetheless, ifhigh doses of vectors are required for phase III and commercializationcurrent methods will not be able to support such demand.

As said strategies, which have indeed demonstrated the potential ofnovel AAV serotypes (and related genetic variants), were not consideredsatisfying as not achieving precise tropism, enabling the selectivetransduction of a target cell type, further efforts to increase tropismsof AAV-derived vectors are currently underway. Indeed to counterbalancethe lack of specificity of the AAV-derived vectors, extremely largeamounts of AAV-derived vectors need to be administered to reach atherapeutic threshold, which is not desired for safety concerns as wellas manufacturing limitations.

Various attempts have been pursued for this purpose, such as geneticintroduction of peptide epitopes with targeting specificities into theviral surface. Further strategies were using linker molecules with twospecificities, such as bispecific antibodies, one specificity beingdirected to the viral capsid, the other to the receptor, wereintroducing adaptor domains (Z domain of protein A, biotin) for noncovalent attachment of protein ligands.

For example in document WO00/002654, the altered tropism is madeprimarily for preventing the binding of the AAV to virus receptors ofthe original target cell. In a particular embodiment, the increasedaffinity vis-a-vis the target cell is also referred in this document.Still in this document, antibody fragments are linked to the capsid.According to an alternative embodiment, the other end of the antibodycan be coupled to ligands to improve the affinity vis-a-vis the target(preparation of “diabodies”).

Combined biological and chemical coupling on the AAV capsid has alsobeen proposed in the past for improving the selectivity of AAV-derivedvectors to the target tissue.

For example WO2005/106046 proposes a method combining geneticmodification and chemical modification of the capsid. The chemicalmodification that is the second stage of the process relies on thepresence of residues cysteines whose capsid was enriched by geneticpathway in a first step. AAV particles may thus be grafted with ligands,polymers, gold nanoparticles, fluorescents molecules, magnetic orsubstances biochemically active substances. However, the coupling isperformed via disulfide, thioester and/or thioether bonds and via NCSbonds as in the present invention as detailed herein after.

The article E. D. Horowitz et al “Glycated AAV Vectors: ChemicalRedirection of Viral Tissue Tropism” Bioconjugate Chemistry, 2011, 22,529-532 describes the problem of cell tropism among other technicalproblems. In particular, generation of unnatural amino acid side chainsthrough capsid glycation serves as an orthogonal strategy to engineerAAV vectors displaying novel tissue tropisms for gene therapyapplications.

In WO2015/062516, a non-natural amino acid, such as an amino acidcomprising an azido, is inserted into the capsid by genetic modificationprior to a coupling step by chemical-click to change the capsid of AAVand its tropism for the target cell.

One may also cite another dimension of the research in the field of AAVas a vehicle for gene therapy, i.e. coating of viral particles withpolymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) orpoly-(N-hydroxypropyl)methacylamide (pHPMA) with the aim of reducingspecific and unspecific interactions with nontarget tissues.

However said approaches are still not entirely satisfying as varioussteps are mostly involved before achieving the AAV-derived vectors.Also, to incorporate specific ligands these approaches required thegenetic modification of the capsid. In other words, the existingprocesses for incorporating ligands into the AAV capsid surfaces do notoffer the desired flexibility and simplicity, since it cannot be appliedto a wild type capsid. It has to be noted that the introduction of agenetic modification in the capsid can change the tropism of the vectorand can modify the production yield and other biological parameters. Inaddition, this genetic modification has to be performed for each newserotype that needs to be modified. In summary, no universal methodexists to couple a desired target ligand to the AAV capsid.

It is also known from Kye-II Joo et al “Enhanced Real-Time Monitoring ofAdeno-Associated Virus Trafficking by Virus-Quantum Dot Conjugates”, ACSNANO, vol. 5, no. 5, 24 May 2011 a chemical reaction for couplingquantum dots (QDs) in the capsids o AAV particles. However, acarbodiimide coupling is implemented and not a thiourea bond as in thepresent invention as it will be apparent from the following description.

At last, C. E. Wobus et al “Monoclonal Antibodies against theAdeno-Associated Virus Type 2 (AAV-2) Capsid: Epitope Mapping andIdentification of Capsid Domains Involved in AAv-2 Cell Interaction andNeutralization of AAV-2 Infection”, Journal of Virology, vol. 74, no.19, 1 Oct. 200, pages 9281-9293 describes the labelling of empty capsidswith FITC. However, as it will be described in detail herein after, onlygenome containing capsids are concerned in the present invention andcoupled to ligand L through a bond comprising a —CSNH— and an aromaticmoiety.

Therefore, there exists a need for finding a method to modifyAAV-derived vectors by chemical coupling, for increasing their abilityto target a specific organ or tissue, in particular by an in vivo genedelivery.

There is also a need to modify the AAV-derived vectors without requiringa step of modification of the AAV aminoacid capsid sequence.

Furthermore, there is a need for new surface-modified AAV-derivedvectors with improved virus-mediated gene transfer into specific celltypes.

More generally, there exists a need for new methods for chemicallycoupling ligands of any nature on AAV-derived vectors capsids surface,i.e. a variety of chemical moieties, for example to improve the“specific activity” and/or “the therapeutic index”.

More particularly, there is a need to provide new means for modifyingthe particle capsids with moieties such as synthetic polymers, peptides,carbohydrates or lipids.

It further exists a need to find out chemically-modified RecombinantAdeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle allowing decreasing thetherapeutic dose.

The present invention precisely aims to provide a novel recombinantAdeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle complying with theprevious requirements, its producing method and its therapeutic and/ordiagnostic uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, according to one of its aspects, the invention is directed toa recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle having atleast one primary amino group contained in the capsid proteins,chemically coupled with at least one ligand L, wherein said ligand L isimplemented under the form of a compound of formula (I)

with

-   -   N* being the nitrogen atom of one primary amino group contained        in the capsid proteins and,    -   {circle around (Ar)} representing an optionally substituted        arylene or a heteroarylene radical, directly or not, covalently        bound to at least one ligand L.

According to another of its aspects, the invention relates to a methodfor chemically coupling an Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vector particlewith at least one ligand L, said method comprising at least the stepsof:

-   -   having an Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) particle having at least        one primary amino group contained in the capsid proteins, and    -   contacting said AAV particle with a reagent of formula (11)        B—N═C═S  (II) wherein B is        a radical (L)m(X)Ar—    -   with    -   L being as defined herein after,    -   m representing an integer from 1 to 1000,    -   Ar representing an arylene or heteroarylene radical, and is more        particularly as defined herein after, and    -   X representing a bond or a spacer between said ligand(s) L and        Ar, in conditions suitable for reacting the primary amino group        with the —N═C═S moiety of the reagent of formula (II).

The invention further relates to a Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus(rAAV) vector particle obtained by said method conform to the presentinvention.

In still another aspect, the present invention is directed to theRecombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle according tothe present invention, for use as a medicament, in particular fordelivering therapeutic nucleic acids (genes, RNA, miRNA, lncRNAs, . . .) or for inducing a corrective genome editing; as a prophylactic means;as a diagnostic means, such as an imaging agent or for use forefficiency studies for gene therapy.

The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprisingthe Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle of theinvention in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The chemical modification considered in the framework of the presentinvention may therefore be carried out by formation of a covalent bonddirectly to the amino groups present on the AAV capsid withoutrequirements of previous genetic modifications to the capsid sequence.

The major advantage of chemical coupling, as opposed to the generationof engineered AAV strains using molecular genetic tools, is thepossibility to modify the particle capsids with moieties such assynthetic polymers, peptides, carbohydrates or even lipids that cannotbe incorporated genetically. Also, new genetic variants of AAV capsidmight be problematic to produce and characterize for their use inclinical trials since these synthetic capsids have to be studied atvarious levels, including tropism, biodistribution, vector assembly,production yields and purification strategies.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the invention, and in particular inconnection to the variety of organic entities that can functionalize thecapsids, such as small molecules, polymers or peptides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the covalent coupling of FITC on the capsid of AAV2via primary amino groups.

FIG. 2 illustrates the identification of the reactive function for thecovalent coupling of GalNAc ligands on the capsid of AAV2 via primaryamino groups.

FIG. 3 illustrates the covalent coupling of GalNAc ligands on the capsidof AAV2 via primary amino groups.

FIG. 4 illustrates the transduction of human primary hepatocytes withAAV2 and AAV2 vectors chemically modified with GalNAc ligands.

FIG. 5 illustrates the effect of the number of equivalents of ligands onthe efficacy of coupling via primary amino group (Example with FITC).

FIG. 6 illustrates the effect of the number of equivalents of GalNAcligands on the efficacy of coupling via primary amino group (Examplewith 6 and 13) and the transduction of murine primary hepatocytes.

FIG. 7 illustrates the effect of the number of equivalents of Mannoseligands on the efficacy of coupling via primary amino group (Examplewith 6 and 13) and the transduction of the retina in rats.

FIG. 8 illustrates the identification of ligands 18 and 19 withdifferent reactive function for the covalent coupling of GalNAc ligandson the capsid of AAV2 via primary amino groups.

FIG. 9 illustrates the covalent coupling of 6 on the capsid of AAV3b viaprimary amino groups.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which representative embodiments of theinvention are shown.

Definitions

Unless otherwise indicated, all terms used herein have the same meaningas they would to one skilled in the art, and the practice of the presentinvention will employ conventional techniques of molecular biology,virology and recombinant DNA technology, which are within the knowledgeof those of skill in the art.

The terms “administering,” “introducing,” or “delivering,” as usedherein refer to delivery of a plasmid or vector of the invention forrecombinant protein or nucleotide expression to a cell or to cellsand/or tissues and/or organs of a subject. Such administering,introducing, or delivering may take place in vivv, in vitro, or ex vivo.A plasmid for recombinant protein or polypeptide expression may beintroduced into a cell by transfection, which typically means insertionof heterologous DNA into a cell by chemical means (e.g., calciumphosphate transfection, polyethyleneimine (PEI), or lipofection);physical means (electroporation or microinjection); infection, whichtypically refers to introduction by way of an infectious agent withcapacity for replication and/or completing its life cycle, i.e., a virus(e.g., baculovirus expressing AAV Rep genes); or transduction, which invirology refers to infection of a cell without completing the life cycleusually because the required functions for replication of such agenthave been modified or the transfer of genetic material from onemicroorganism to another by way of a viral agent (e.g., a bacteriophageor replication deficient viral vectors).

A vector according to the invention for recombinant polypeptide,protein, or oligonucleotide expression may be delivered by physicalmeans (e.g., calcium phosphate transfection, electroporation,microinjection or lipofection), or by preparing the vector with apharmaceutically acceptable carrier for in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivodelivery to a cell, tissue, organ, or a subject. Furthermore, arecombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle of theinvention can enter cells without the aid of physical means or a carrier(other than the coupled ligand).

The term “host cell” as used herein refers to, for examplemicroorganisms, yeast cells, insect cells, and mammalian cells, that canbe, or have been, used as recipients of rAAV vectors. The term includesthe progeny of the original cell which has been transduced. Thus, a“host cell” as used herein generally refers to a cell which has beentransduced with an exogenous nucleic acid. It is understood that theprogeny of a single parental cell may not necessarily be completelyidentical in morphology or in genomic or total DNA to the originalparent, due to natural, accidental, or deliberate mutation.

The term “recombinant” as used herein refers to nucleic acids, vectors,polypeptides, or proteins that have been generated using DNArecombination (cloning) methods and are distinguishable from native orwild-type nucleic acids, vectors, polypeptides, or proteins.

The term “subject” as used herein includes, but is not limited to,humans, nonhuman primates such as chimpanzees and other apes and monkeyspecies; farm animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses;domestic mammals such as dogs and cats; laboratory animals includingrodents such as mice, rats and guinea pigs, and the like. The term doesnot denote a particular age or sex. Thus, adult and newborn subjects, aswell as fetuses, whether male or female, are intended to be covered.

As used herein the term “tropism” refers to preferential infectionand/or transduction of the recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV)vector particle of certain cells or tissues. In a preferred embodiment,to modify the AAV particles tropism, the particles are being givencertain features such as certain affinities to receptors on the targetcell's surface which they do not posses by nature.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” as used herein refers tomolecular entities and compositions that are physiologically tolerableand do not typically produce toxicity or an allergic or similar untowardreaction, such as gastric upset, dizziness and the like, whenadministered to a human. Preferably, as used herein, the term“pharmaceutically acceptable” means approved by a regulatory agency ofthe Federal or a state government or listed in the U. S. Pharmacopeia orother generally recognized pharmacopeia for use in animals, and moreparticularly in humans.

As used herein the “therapeutic index” is a parameter expressing thetherapeutic efficiency of the active drug. It is for example low whenimplying that high concentration of the active substance is needed toachieve therapeutic efficacy or when the dose required obtainingefficacy induce toxicity. On the contrary, high therapeutic indeximplies that the dose required of the active substance to providetherapeutic efficacy is low and/or when toxicity of the active drug islow.

The term “chemical modification” as used herein refers to themodification of capsid proteins by chemical reactions and underformation of covalent chemical bonds.

AAV

All recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus may be implemented in theframework of the present invention.

The recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus capsid may be chosen among allidentified natural serotypes and in particular AAV2, AAV3b, AAV5, AAV8,AAV9 and AAV10 and may be even more particularly AAV2.

Also, the recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus may be chosen amongsynthetic serotypes generated by non-natural methods, such as, but notlimited to: capsid mutagenesis, peptide insertions into the capsidsequence, capsid shuffling from various serotypes or ancestralreconstruction.

Recombinant AAV are capable of transducing a wide range of post-mitoticcells in vivo in the mammal as muscle cells, hepatocytes or neurons.

Recombinant AAV vectors can be produced by several methods including:transient transfection of HEK293 cells, stable cell lines infected withAd or HSV, mammalian cells infected with Ad or HSV (expressing rep-capand transgene) or insect cells infected with baculovirus vectors(expressing rep-cap and transgene). Recombinant AAV vectors produced byany of these methods can be used for the chemical modificationsdescribed herein. The vectors may in particular be produced by transienttransfection of HEK293 cells with calcium phosphate-HeBS method with twoplasmids: pHelper, PDP2-KANA encoding AAV Rep2-Cap2 and adenovirushelper genes (E2A, VA RNA, and E4) and pVector ss-CAG-eGFP asillustrated in example 2.1.

The Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus of the invention may contain anysequence from extraviral origin as desired.

Capsid

The capsid may naturally or not naturally comprise amino groups. Aminogroup present at the surface of the capsid is involved in said chemicalcoupling.

According to a particular embodiment, the Recombinant Adeno AssociatedVirus vector is composed of wild-type capsid proteins from naturallyoccurring serotypes.

Said naturally occurring amino groups may be for example lysine,arginine and cysteine, and more particularly lysine.

According to another particular embodiment, the RecombinantAdeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle is an Adeno AssociatedVirus with a genetic modification (mutation, insertions or deletions) ofthe capsid proteins from naturally occurring serotypes or composed by asynthetic capsid.

In the framework of the present invention a synthetic capsid means anycombination of capsid proteins from natural or artificially created(random mutations, sequence shuffling, in silico design, etc;) serotypesthat are able to assembly and create a new AAV virus capsid that is notexisting in nature.

Formula (1)/Ligand L

The invention provides a novel method for chemically modifying an AAVcapsid by covalently grafting a ligand L on primary amino groups presenton the surface thereof.

The recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle accordingto the present invention describes the embodiment where {circle around(Ar)} represents an aromatic moiety forming part of a ligand L, or theembodiment where {circle around (Ar)} is an arylene or an optionallysubstituted heteroarylene radical, directly or not, covalently bound toat least one ligand L.

In other words, in this case {circle around (Ar)} is encompassed withinthe ligand L. As apparent from the examples, proof of concept of theinvention was firstly performed through this embodiment.

Still according to this case, the ligand L may be a labeling agent asillustrated in example 2, illustrated by the following formula (A)

It is derived from fluorescein and is more particularly derived fromfluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) as reagent of formula (II) as definedherein after.

To this respect, any fluorescent dye comprising an aromatic moiety mayalso be suitably implemented, such as Rhodamine, Alexa fluor and bodipy.

According to the invention, {circle around (Ar)} does not form part ofthe ligand L, said ligand L being bound to {circle around (Ar)}, whichas a consequence is a divalent group.

According to a particular embodiment, {circle around (Ar)} of formula(I) represents an optionally substituted arylene or heteroaryleneradical, directly or not, covalently bound to at least one ligand L.

Typically, the arylene group may be chosen among aromatic cycles likephenylene, naphthylene and anthracenylene, and more particularly amongphenylene and naphtylene.

The arylene or heteroarylene group may optionally be substituted by anysuitable radical. The following radicals may be cited a halogen atom, ahydroxyl group, an amino group, a (C₁-C₃) alkyl group or a (C₁-C₃)alkoxygroup.

The arylene group means aromatic cycles comprising from 1 to 3 aromaticrings, for example bicycles or tricycles, in particular fused aromaticrings, from 5 to 20 carbon atoms, in particular from 5 to 12 carbonatoms.

The heteroarylene group means an aromatic cycles comprising from 1 to 3aromatic rings, in particular fused aromatic rings, from 5 to 20 carbonatoms, in particular from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, optionally comprising atleast one heteroatom, for example between 1 and 4 heteroatoms, selectedfrom O, N and S. Examples of monocyclic heteroarylene groups that may bementioned include imidazolylene, pyrimidylene, isoxazolylene,thiazolylene, isothiazolyl, pyridylene, pyrazolylene, oxazolylene1,2,4-oxadiazolylene, thienylene and furylene groups.

Pyridylene may more particularly be cited.

Examples of bicyclic heteroarylene groups that may be mentioned include1H-indazolylene, benzo[1,2,3]thiadiazolylene,benzo[1,2,5]thiadiazolylene, benzothiophenylene,imidazo[1,2-a]pyridylene, quinolinylene, indolylene and isoquinolinylenegroups.

In the context of the present invention, and unless otherwise mentionedin the text:

-   -   a halogen atom: a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom        or an iodine atom; in particular, the halogen atom is a fluorine        atom;    -   an alkyl group: unless otherwise mentioned in the text, a linear        or branched saturated aliphatic group containing from 1 to 5        carbons. Examples that may be mentioned include methyl, ethyl,        propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl and pentyl        groups; and    -   an alkoxy group: a radical —O-alkyl in which the alkyl group is        as defined previously, in particular the alkyl group is a methyl        or ethyl.

According to a particular embodiment, {circle around (Ar)} represents aphenylene group, a naphthylene or a pyridylene group and moreparticularly a group

a group

or a group

directly or not, covalently bound to at least one ligand L.

The ligand L may fulfill different functions.

Ligand L may typically be chosen among a targeting agent, a stericshielding agent for avoiding neutralizing antibodies interactions, alabeling agent or a magnetic agent.

According to a particular embodiment, ligand L is a targeting ligand, inparticular a cell-type specific ligand, and more particularly derivedfrom proteins, from mono- or polysaccharides, from steroid hormones,from RGD motif peptide, from vitamins, from small molecules or fromtargeting peptide.

According to one embodiment, a cell-type specific ligand may be derivedfrom proteins such as transferring, Epidermal Growth Factor EGF, basicFibroblast Growth Factor bFGF.

According to one embodiment, a cell-type specific ligand may be derivedfrom mono- or polysaccharides such as galactose, N-acetylgalactosamineand mannose.

According to one embodiment, a cell-type specific ligand may be derivedfrom vitamins such as folates.

According to one embodiment, a cell-type specific ligand may be derivedfrom small molecules including naproxen, ibuprofen or other knownprotein-binding molecules.

According to one embodiment, a cell-type specific ligand may be derivedfrom a muscle targeting peptide (MTP) comprises an amino acid sequenceselected from the group consisting of: ASSLNIA (SEQ ID NO: 1); WDANGKT(SEQ ID NO: 2); GETRAPL (SEQ ID NO: 3); CGHHPVYAC (SEQ ID NO: 4); andHAIYPRH (SEQ ID NO: 5). In certain embodiments, the muscle targetingmoiety comprises creatine, from a cancer targeting peptide (CTP)comprises an amino acid sequence derived from linear or cyclic RGDpeptides.

According to a more specific aspect of the present embodiment,galactose-derived ligands, which are recognized by asialoglycoproteinreceptor (ASPGPr), can be used to specifically target hepatocytes.

In the framework of said specific aspect of the invention and among themoiety of formula (I), mention may be made of a subgroup of moiety offormula (Ia), which may be represented as follows:

wherein

n ranges from 0 to 5000, in particular from 1 to 2000, and even moreparticularly from 3 to 100.

Moiety of formula (I) may be selected from

Said moiety of formula (C) corresponds to a moiety of formula (Ia)wherein n is equal to 3.

According to another particular embodiment, ligand L is a stericshielding agent for avoiding neutralizing antibodies interactions inparticular derived from synthetic polymers such as polyethylene glycol(PEG) or pHPMA.

According to a further embodiment, ligand L is a labeling agent, inparticular for analytic gene transfer with for example fluorescent dyeor nano gold particles, such as Fluorescein, rhodamine, alexa fluor,bodipy or radioactive dye such as ¹⁸F, ^(124,125,131)I, ⁶⁴Cu or ⁶⁷Cu.

According to a further embodiment, the ligand L is a magnetic agent,such as iron particles.

Ligand of various nature may be coupled to the RecombinantAdeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle by simultaneous orchronological chemical coupling on the capsid.

Method of Coupling

The “coupling” as used herein, refers to the primary amino chemicalmodification of said primary amino groups as present on the surface ofthe AAV particle under formation of covalent chemical bonds. Couplingrefers to a procedure which maintains the structural integrity of theAAV particle and their core protein functions. Only some primary aminogroups on the surface of the capsid are modified.

The coupling may be performed in a buffered aqueous solution.

The incubation time may range between 1 and 24, and more particularlyduring 4 h.

The incubation temperature may range between 20 and 50° C., and evenmore particularly at room temperature.

The reaction may be carried out in buffer systems with a pH comprisedbetween 7 and 9.6, in particular between 9.2 and 9.4, for example withvortex agitation.

The buffer systems may be selected from TRIS Buffered Saline, sodiumcarbonate-sodium bicarbonate buffer, PBS, dPBS. The preferred buffersystem is TRIS Buffered Saline (TBS).

The amount of reagent of formula (II) may range between 1E5 and 1.5E7molar equivalent, in particular between 3E5 and 3E6 molar equivalent.

After the step of coupling Pluronic (0.001%) is added on the solutionbefore dialysis.

As a further step, the free molecules may be removed by tangential flowfiltration or dialysis (4 baths against dPBS+0.001% Pluronic over aperiod of 24 h).

The process may be followed by titration of the particles by qPRC andcharacterizations (DLS, Dot and Western blot).

The experimental conditions, and more particularly the molar ratio, usedfor the coupling can modulate the coupling of a ligand on the surface ofthe capsid of AAV2. It will be used to determine the best ratio whichcan increase the therapeutic index of these particles.

According to a particular embodiment, the present invention relates tothe method for chemically coupling an Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)vector particle with at least one ligand L, wherein the moiety (L)mX— ofB is of formula (III)

wherein L is as defined above and Y is a bi- or multivalent organicgroup, said organic group comprising from 1 to 39 carbon atoms, from 0to 20 oxygen atoms, from 0 to 6 nitrogen atoms and from 0 to 1 sulfuratoms.

According to a further embodiment, the present invention is dedicated toa method, wherein X represents:

-   -   a group H

-   -   wherein n represents a integer from 0 to 5000, in particular        from 1 to 500, from 2 to 100, and even more particularly from 3        to 20, and for example is equal to 3, or    -   a group

wherein n represents an integer from 0 to 5000, in particular from 1 to2000, and even more particularly from 3 to 100, and is particularly 3.

The reagents of formula (II) may be obtained according to methods knownfrom the man skilled in the art.

As a way of illustration of the preparation of the reagent of formula(II), useful for obtaining the moiety of formula (B) as described aboveis detailed hereinafter in scheme 1.

Compound 6 pertaining to formula (11) is obtained, the preparation ofwhich is much more described in example 1 herein after.

Compound 1 may be reacted in step (i) with paratoluenesulfonic acid(APTS), in polar solvent for example in ethanol, and more particularlyin ethanol under hydrogen atmosphere and in presence of a catalyst, forexample Pd—C or Pd(OH)₂. The obtained compound 2 may then be reacted ina step (ii) with a strongly basic anion exchange resin, for exampleAmberlite IRN78, to obtain compound 3.

Method a for the Synthesis of Compound 6

According to a first embodiment, compound 3 may be reacted to affordcompound 4 in a step (iii), by reacting1,1′-thiocarbonyldi-2(1H)-pyridone in a solvent, for example DMF. Theobtained compound 4 may then be reacted in a step (iv) withp-phenylendiamine, in a solvent, for example DMF, for example at atemperature ranging from 40 to 100° C., and for example at 60° C., andpreferably under inert atmosphere, in particular under nitrogenatmosphere to afford compound 5.

Said compound 5 may then be reacted with1,1′-thiocarbonyldi-2(1H)-pyridone in a step (v), in a solvent, forexample DMF, for example at a temperature ranging from 40 to 100° C.,and for example at 60° C., and preferably under inert atmosphere, inparticular under nitrogen atmosphere to afford compound 6.

Method B for the Synthesis of Compound 6

According to a second embodiment, compound 3 may be reacted withp-phenylene diisothiocyanate in a step (vi), in a solvent, for exampleDMF, for example at ambient temperature and preferably under inertatmosphere, in particular under nitrogen atmosphere to afford compound6.

As a way of illustration of the preparation of the reagent of formula(II), useful for obtaining the moiety of formula (C) as described aboveis detailed hereinafter in scheme 2. Compound 13 pertaining to formula(II) is obtained, the preparation of which is much more described inexample 1 herein after.

As apparent from scheme 2 above, compound 11 may be dissolved in asolvent, in particular dry ethanol, the it may be reacted withparatoluenesulfonic acid (APTS), in polar solvent and more particularlyin ethanol under hydrogen atmosphere and in presence of a catalyst, forexample Pd—C or Pd(OH)2. The reaction can then be stirred under hydrogenatmosphere. After a potential filtration and evaporation stage, thereduction of the azoture may be confirmed by TLC and ¹H NMRspectrometry. The crude product may then be reacted with a stronglybasic anion exchange resin, for example Amberlite 1RN78, to obtaincompound 12.

Compound 12 may be reacted with p-phenylene diisothiocyanate in a step(iii), in a solvent, for example DMF, for example at ambient temperatureand preferably under inert atmosphere, in particular under nitrogenatmosphere to afford compound 13.

As a way of illustration of the preparation of the reagent of formula(II), useful for obtaining the moiety of formula (D) as described aboveis detailed hereinafter in scheme 3. Compound 17 pertaining to formula(11) is obtained, the preparation of which is much more described inexample 1 herein after.

Compound 14 may be reacted in step (i) with paratoluenesulfonic acid(APTS), in polar solvent for example in ethanol, and more particularlyin ethanol under hydrogen atmosphere and in presence of a catalyst, forexample Pd—C or Pd(OH)₂. The obtained compound 15 may then be reacted ina step (ii) with a strongly basic anion exchange resin, for exampleAmberlite IRN78, to obtain compound 16.

Compound 16 may be reacted with p-phenylene diisothiocyanate in a step(iii), in a solvent, for example DMF, for example at room temperatureand preferably under inert atmosphere, in particular under nitrogenatmosphere to generate compound 17.

As a way of illustration of the preparation of the reagent of formula(11), useful for obtaining the moiety of formula (E) and (F) asdescribed above is detailed hereinafter in scheme 4. Compounds 18 and 19pertaining to formula (It) are obtained, the preparation of which ismuch more described in example 1 herein after.

Compound 3 may be reacted with 2-6 Pyridine diisothiocyanate in a step(i), in a solvent, for example DMF, for example at room temperature andpreferably under inert atmosphere, in particular under nitrogenatmosphere to generate compound 18.

atmosphere, in particular under nitrogen atmosphere to generate compound18.

Compound 3 may be reacted with 1-4 Naphtalene diisothiocyanate in a step(i), in a solvent, for example DMF, for example at room temperature andpreferably under inert atmosphere, in particular under nitrogenatmosphere to generate compound 19.

As illustrated in example 2 herein after, the presence of an aromaticmoiety between the thiourea function and the ligand L, or within theligand L when {circle around (Ar)} forms part of a ligand L seems toplay an important role for the achievement of the grafting of thereagent of formula (II) onto the AAV capsid.

As it also comes out from the example 2, and more particularly example2.8 the performance of the coupling reaction at a pH greater than 9seems also to be an essential feature. It may be noticed that theresistance to pH might be dependent on the AAV serotype that has beenused. In example 2, the pH >9 was used for AAV2 but other serotypesmight have a different susceptibility to pH.

Advantageously, the inventors have found that the obtained rAAV retaininfectivity, as illustrated in the examples, and more particularly inexample 2.8.

According to a particular embodiment, the obtained RecombinantAdeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle may be further reacted formodifying the capsid proteins in a second coupling step, in particularby chemical coupling with unreacted amino groups from the first couplingstep.

Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) Vector Particle and itsApplications

A Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle obtained bya method for producing them according to the present invention alsoforms part of the present invention.

The cells which the rAAV vectors of the invention target can be derivedfrom a human, and other mammals such as primates, horse, sheep, goat,pig, dog, rat, and mouse.

rAAV vectors can target any cell type, tissue, or organ withoutlimitation. Examples of cells to which rAAV can be delivered intoinclude, but are not limited to, hepatocytes; cells of the retina; i.e.photoreceptors, retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), bipolar; musclecells, i.e. myoblasts, satellite cells: cells of the central nervoussystem (CNS), i.e. neurons, glial; cells of the heart; cells of theperipheral nervous system (PNS); osteoblasts; tumor cells, lymphocytes,and the like. Examples of tissues and organs to which rAAV vectors canbe delivered to include liver, muscle, cardiac muscle, smooth muscle,brain, bone, connective tissue, heart, kidney, lung, lymph node, mammarygland, myelin, prostate, testes, thymus, thyroid, trachea, and the like.Preferred cell types are hepatocytes, muscle cells, cells of the CNS,and cells of the PNS. Preferred tissue and organs are liver, muscle,heart, eye, and brain.

The Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle accordingto the present invention may be used for altering the tropism of theAdeno Associated Virus (AAV) vector particle and in particular fortargeting to a desired specific organ, tissue or cell types; foraccentuating the transduction of a specific cell or tissue or fordecreasing the interaction with neutralizing antibodies. This hypothesisis in agreement with data published by Moskalenko et al. (Moskalenko,M., et al., Epitope mapping of human anti-adeno-associated virus type 2neutralizing antibodies: implications for gene therapy and virusstructure. J Virol, 2000, 74(4): p. 1761-6) where they have identified asubset of six peptides, which potentially reconstitute a singleneutralizing epitope. What is important to note is that three of thesepeptides are carried by at least one primary amine. The chemicalmodification of these primary amines could in theory impact favourablyon pre-existing sero-neutralization patterns, as already demonstratedfor PEGyllated AAV2. (Lee, G. K., et al., PEG conjugation moderatelyprotects adeno-associated viral vectors against antibody neutralization.Biotechnol Bioeng, 2005, 92(1): p. 24-34; Le, H. T., et al., Utility ofPEGylated recombinant adeno-associated viruses for gene transfer. JControl Release, 2005, 108(1): p. 161-77).

According to one embodiment, the Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus(rAAV) vector particle provides a high cell-type selectivity or hightargeting specificity.

Specific organ or tissue may for example be liver, heart, brain, retinaor skeletal muscle.

Specific cell type may be for example hepatocytes, cardiomyocytes,myocytes, neurons, retinal pigmented epithelial cells or photoreceptors.

The chemically-modified Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vectorparticle present the advantage of allowing decreasing the therapeuticdose of said Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particleor improve the efficacy and/or toxicity at the same dose of anon-modified AAV. Said Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vectorparticle according to the present invention may also be advantageous forimpairing the humoral response to said Recombinant Adeno-AssociatedVirus (rAAV) vector particle.

The present invention further relates to the RecombinantAdeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle according to theinvention, for use as a medicament, in particular for deliveringtherapeutic nucleic acids or for inducing genome editing; as aprophylactic means; as a diagnostic means, such as an imaging agent orfor use for efficiency studies for gene therapy.

The Recombinant rAAV vector particle may be used for delivering nucleicacids to target cells.

The Recombinant rAAV vector particle may be administered in vivo or exvivo.

The Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle accordingto the invention may be dedicated for altering the tropism of the AdenoAssociated Virus (AAV) and in particular for targeting to a desiredspecific organ, tissue or cell types or for accentuating thetransduction of a specific cell or tissue.

The Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle accordingto the invention may also be dedicated for impairing the humoralresponse to said Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vectorparticle.

The Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle accordingto the invention may also be dedicated for decreasing the interactionwith neutralizing antibodies.

According to one embodiment, the Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus(rAAV) vector particle reduces or prevents binding of antibodies to itssurface, thereby reducing or preventing its antibody-mediated clearance.

The Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle accordingto the invention may have a selective tropism for hepatocytes, retina,lung, heart, kidney, liver, brain, spleen, tumor or muscle cells, andmore particularly for hepatocytes, Retinal Pigmented Epithelium (RPE),photoreceptors, myocytes or cardiomyocytes.

As an illustration of the advantages of the present invention, and as itcomes out from the following examples, chemical modification of AAV2particles allows to overcome some if not all the above limitationsclassically known when using AAV particles.

Said limitations may be outlined below:

-   -   Hepatocyte transduction by AAV2 is low in all mammals, including        humans.    -   To achieve therapeutic benefit it is necessary to inject high        doses of vector (˜10¹² AAV2 particles per kg) which may cause an        immune toxicity detrimental to the therapeutic effect.    -   Not only hepatocytes but also other cell types of the liver        reticuloendothelial compartment—which accounts for up to 30% of        the liver—are transduced by AAV2. This “dispersion” of the        transduction profile reduces the therapeutic index of AAV.    -   Systemic injection of AAV2 induces or activates a T cell        response that eventually leads to the elimination of the        transduced cells.    -   More than 80% of human population has neutralizing antibodies        against AAV2 precluding efficient transduction unless huge        amounts of viral particles are administered.

The introduction of a ligand, a N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)derivative, such as compound 6 and 13 as described above, on the AAV2particle surface increases the selective transduction of hepatocytes viathe asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASPGr).

Among other selective target tissue the following may be cited: theretinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), the skeletal muscle.

The hepatocyte targeting strategy enables to reduce the off-targettransduction events in the hepatic reticuloendothelial system as well asother peripheral targets (spleen, heart, lung . . . ). Altogether, thechemical modification according to the present invention results in theimprovement of the therapeutic index and also decreases the sensitivityof said Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle topreexisting neutralizing antibodies and/or impair the humoral responseto the modified capsid.

Thus, according to yet another of its aspects, the present inventionfurther provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the RecombinantAdeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle according to theinvention, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The delivery of said composition to the host cells or target cells maybe performed for a variety of therapeutic and other purposes.

The pharmaceutical compositions may contain more particularly aneffective dose of at least one Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV)vector particle according to the invention.

An “effective dose” means an amount sufficient to induce a positivemodification in the condition to be regulated or treated, but low enoughto avoid serious side effects. An effective amount may vary with thepharmaceutical effect to obtain or with the particular condition beingtreated, the age and physical condition of the end user, the severity ofthe condition being treated/prevented, the duration of the treatment,the nature of other treatments, the specific compound or compositionemployed, the route of administration, and like factors.

One of ordinary skill in the art of therapeutic formulations will beable, without undue experimentation and in reliance upon personalknowledge, to ascertain a therapeutically effective dose of a compoundof the invention for a given indication.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be formulated with anyknown suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients according to thedose, the galenic form, the route of administration and the likes.

As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable excipients” include any andall solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungalagents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents and the like. Exceptinsofar as any conventional excipient is incompatible with the activecompounds, its use in a medicament or pharmaceutical composition of theinvention is contemplated.

The Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle of theinvention can also be used in a method for the delivery of a nucleotidesequence of interest to a target cell. The method may in particular be amethod for delivering a therapeutic gene of interest to a cell of asubject in need thereof.

The invention allows for the in vivo expression of a polypeptide,protein, or oligonucleotide encoded by a therapeutic exogenous DNAsequence in cells in a subject such that therapeutic levels of thepolypeptide, protein, or oligonucleotide are expressed. These resultsare seen with both in vivo and in vitro modes of RecombinantAdeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle delivery.

The invention should not be considered limiting with regard to themethod of delivery. For example, delivery can be topical, intra-tissue(e.g., intramuscular, intracardiac, intrahepatic, intrarenal,intracerebral), conjunctival (e.g., extra-orbital, intraorbital,retroorbital, intraretinal, sub-retinal), mucosal (e.g., oral, rectal,nasal, pulmonary), intrathecal, intravesical, intracranial, systemic,intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, cutaneous, intravascular (e.g.intravenous, intraarterial), and intralymphatic. In other aspects,passive tissue transduction via high pressure intravascular infusion,e.g. intravenous or intraarterial infusion.

Furthermore, delivery is not limited to one species of rAAV vector. Assuch, in another aspect, multiple rAAV vectors comprising differentexogenous DNA sequences can be delivered simultaneously or sequentiallyto the target cell, tissue, organ, or subject. Therefore, this strategycan allow for the expression of multiple genes.

According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, theRecombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) vector particle isadministered intravenously.

Suitable doses of the rAAV may be readily determined by the man skilledin the art, depending upon the condition being treated, the health, ageand weight of the subject to be treated, but also depending on theapplication and on the tissue.

For example for the retina 10¹¹ vg/patient may be required and forsystemic applications like haemophilia, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) orDuchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) the required dose may be greater than10¹⁴ vg/patient.

The invention also relates to said Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus(rAAV) vector particle, for use in a diagnostic method or for use ingene therapy, in particular for treating genetic disorders or acquireddisorders including, heart failure, neurological disorders, muscledisorders such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), liver diseases,blood disorders, metabolic disorders, ocular pathologies or cancer(including retinopathies). Also, said Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus(rAAV) vector particle can be used for immunotherapies and vaccination.

According to a particular embodiment, said Recombinant Adeno-AssociatedVirus (rAAV) vector particle is more particularly useful for theindications selected from hepatic, retinal and neuromuscular geneticdiseases.

The present invention additionally relates to a method for deliveringrAAV of the invention to a subject in need thereof, comprising at leastone step of administration of a composition comprising at least one rAAVof the invention.

The present invention will be better understood by referring to thefollowing examples and figures which are provided for illustrativepurpose only and should not be interpreted as limiting in any manner theinstant invention.

EXAMPLES

Material

All chemical reagents were purchased from Acros Organics or Aldrich andwere used without further purification. AAV capsid proteins (B1), rabbitpolyclonal and mouse monoclonal A20 were obtained from PROGENBiotechnik. Anti-Fluorescein-AP, Fab fragments (Sigma-Aldrich) for thedetection of fluorescein-labeled compounds was obtained from Roche.FITC-Soybean Agglutinin (SBA) was purchased from Vector laboratories.Reactions requiring anhydrous conditions were performed under nitrogen.All compounds were fully characterized by ¹H (400.133 or 300.135 MHz),¹³C (125.773 or 75.480 MHz) NMR spectroscopy (Bruker Avance 300 UltraShield or Bruker Avance III 400 spectrometer). Chemical shifts arereported in parts per million (ppm); coupling constant are reported inunits of Hertz [Hz]. The following abbreviations were used: s=singlet,d=doublet, t=triplet, q=quartet, quin=quintet, br=broad singlet. Whenneeded, ¹³C heteronuclear HMQC and HMBC were used to unambiguouslyestablish structures. High-resolution mass spectra (HRMS) were recordedwith a Thermofisher hybrid LTQ-orbitrap spectrometer (ESP⁺) and a BrukerAutoflex III SmartBeam spectrometer (MALDI).

All the products were purified by flash chromatography (GRACE REVELERISFlash Chromatography System) equipped with UV and DLS detectors.

Compound 13 has been purified by HPLC using UPLC H-Class from Waters.

Example 1: Synthesis of the Reagent of Formula (II) and ComparativeReactants

Scheme for the Synthesis of Comparative Reactant 9

Scheme for the Synthesis of Comparative Reactant 22

i: DCM, 2-(2-Ethoxyethoxy)ethanol, SnCl₄, TFA-Ag; ii: MeOH/H₂O, IRN78.

Compounds 1, 7, 10, 2,6 pyridine diisothiocyanate and 1,4 naphtalenediisothiocyanate as already defined above in the description, weresynthetized according to the literature and more particularly accordingto the two following article and patent:

-   [1] Rensen P C el al. “Design and synthesis of novel    N-acetylgalactosamine-terminated glycolipids for targeting of    lipoproteins to the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor”. Journal of    medicinal chemistry. 2004; 47:5798-808, and-   [2] Rajeev K G, et al, “Inhibitory RNA interference agents modified    with saccharide ligands” Patent WO 2012037254, 2012.-   [3] Chevolot Y, el al. “DNA-Based Carbohydrate Biochips: A Platform    for Surface Glyco-Engineering”. Angewandte Chemie International    Edition, 2007; 46:2398-2402.-   [4] Nagarajan, K., et al. “Quest for anthelmintic agents. Part 1.    Para substituted phenylisothiocyanates, heterocyclylisothiocyanates    and bisisothiocyanates,”. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences,    48(3), 53-9: 1986.

1 (284 mg, 0.56 mmol) was dissolved in dry ethanol, then APTS (107 mg,0.56 mmol) was added followed by the addition of 10% of Pd—C (10% w).After three vacuum/H₂ cycles the reaction was stirred overnight at 20°C. under H₂ atmosphere. The solution was then filtrated and evaporatedunder reduce pressure. The reduction of the azoture was confirmed by TLCand ¹H NMR. After evaporation, 10 mL of methanol and 10 mL of water wereadded to the crude product, followed by the addition of Amberlite 1RN78resin. The reaction was stirred 3 h at 20° C., then filtrated andevaporated under reduce pressure. (yield: 3=77%).

Compound 3: ¹H NMR (MeOD): 2.0 (s, 3H, NAc), 2.79 (t, 2H, CH₂NH₂,J_(H-H)=5.2 Hz), 3.4-4.0 (m, 16H, CH₂O, H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, H-6), 4.44(d, 1H, H-1, J₁₋₂=8.4 Hz); ¹³C NMR (MeOD): 23.1, 42.1, 54.3, 62.6, 69.7,69.8, 71.3, 71.5, 71.6, 73.5, 73.6, 76.8, 103.1, 174.2; HRMS (MALDI) forC₁₄H₂₉N₂O₈ [M+H]⁺, calcd 353.1924 found 353.1918.

Compound 3 (162 mg, 0.46 mmol) was dissolved in dry DMF, then1,1′-thiocarbonyldi-2(1H)-pyridone (117 mg, 0.51 mmol) was added and thereaction was stirred overnight at 20° C. under N₂ atmosphere. Thesolution was then evaporated under reduce pressure and purified by flashchromatography (DCM/MeOH from 100/0 to 80/20). (yield: 4=88%).

Compound 4: ¹H NMR (MeOD): 2.0 (s, 3H, NAc), 3.4-4.0 (m, 19H, CH₂O,CH₂NCS, H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5. H-6), 4.44 (d, 1H, H-1, J₁₋₂=8.4 Hz); ¹³CNMR (MeOD): 23.1, 46.3, 54.3, 62.6, 69.7, 69.8, 70.5, 71.5, 71.6, 73.5,73.6, 76.8, 103.1, 133.2, 174.2; HRMS (MALDI) for C₁₅H₂₆N₂O₈NaS [M+Na]⁺,calcd 417.1308 found 417.1318.

Method A for the Synthesis of 6

4 (50 mg, 0.13 mmol) was dissolved in dry DMF, then p-phenylenediamine(28 mg, 0.26 mmol) was added and the reaction was stirred overnight at70° C. under N₂ atmosphere. The solution was then evaporated underreduce pressure and purified by flash chromatography (DCM/MeOH from100/0 to 80/20). (yield: 5=74%).

Compound 5: ¹H NMR (MeOD): 1.97 (s, 3H, NAc), 3.4-4.0 (m, 17H, CH₂O,H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, H-6), 4.43 (d, 1H, H-1, J₁₋₂=8.4 Hz), 6.72 (d, 2H,J_(H-H)=8.8 Hz), 6.98 (d, 2H, J_(H-H)=8.8 Hz); ¹³C NMR (MeOD): 23.1,45.4, 54.4, 62.6, 69.7, 69.8, 70.4, 71.4, 71.5, 71.6, 73.4, 76.8, 103.1,2*116.9, 2*128.1, 128.3, 148.3, 174.1, 182.4; HRMS (MALDI) forC₂₁H₃₅N₄O₈S [M+H]⁺, calcd 503.2176 found 503.2171.

5 (47 mg, 0.093 mmol) was dissolved in dry DMF, then1,1′-thiocarbonyldi-2(1H)-pyridone (24 mg, 0.102 mmol) was added and thereaction was stirred overnight at 60° C. under N₂ atmosphere. Thesolution was then evaporated under reduce pressure and purified by flashchromatography (DCM/MeOH from 100/0 to 80/20). (yield: 6=60%).

Compound 6: ¹H NMR (MeOD): 1.99 (s, 3H, NAc), 3.4-4.0 (m, 17H, CH₂O,H-2, H-3, H-4, 11-5, H-6), 4.42 (d, 1H, H-1, J₁₋₂=8.4 Hz), 7.24 (d, 2H,J_(H-H)=8.8 Hz), 7.54 (d, 2H, J_(H-H)=8.8 Hz); ¹³C NMR (MeOD): 23.2,45.4, 54.3, 62.6, 69.7, 69.9, 70.3, 71.4, 71.5, 71.6, 73.4, 76.8, 103.2,2*125.8, 2*127.1, 128.5, 136.6, 139.8, 174.2, 182.5; HRMS (MALDI) forC₂₂H₃₃N₄O₈S₂ [M+H]⁺, calcd 545.1740 found 545.1742.

Method B for the Synthesis of 6

3 (64 mg, 0.18 mmol) was dissolved in dry DMF, then p-phenylenediisothiocyanate (175 mg, 0.9 mmol) was added and the reaction wasstirred during 2 h at 20° C. under N₂ atmosphere. The solution was thenevaporated under reduce pressure and purified by flash chromatography(DCM/MeOH from 100/0 to 80/20). (yield: 6=85%).

Compound 6: ¹H NMR (MeOD): 1.99 (s, 3H, NAc), 3.4-4.0 (m, 17H, CH₂O,H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, H-6), 4.42 (d, 1H, H-1, J₁₋₂=8.4 Hz), 7.24 (d, 2H,J_(H-H)=8.8 Hz), 7.54 (d, 2H, J_(H-H)=8.8 Hz); ¹³C NMR (MeOD): 23.2,45.4, 54.3, 62.6, 69.7, 69.9, 70.3, 71.4, 71.5, 71.6, 73.4, 76.8, 103.2,2*125.8, 2*127.1, 128.5, 136.6, 139.8, 174.2, 182.5; HRMS (MALDI) forC₂₂H₃₃N₄O₈S₂ [M+H]⁺, calcd 545.1740 found 545.1742.

Compound 7 (981 mg, 2.98 mmol) was dissolved in dry DCM, then2-(2-Ethoxyethoxy)ethanol (404 μL, 2.98 mmol) and molecular sieves wereadded and the solution was stirred during 0.5 h at 20° C. under N₂atmosphere. TMSOTf (270 μL, 1.49 mmol) was then added to the solution at0° C. under N₂ atmosphere. The solution was stirred 0.5 h at 0° C. andovernight at 20° C. under N₂ atmosphere. After evaporation the residuewas dissolved in DCM, washed respectively with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃,water and brine, dried over MgSO₄, filtered and evaporated. The solutionwas then evaporated under reduce pressure and purified by flashchromatography (DCM/MeOH from 100/0 to 95/5), (yield: 8=73%).

Compound 8: ¹H NMR (MeOD): 1.19 (t, 3H, CH₃, J_(H-H)=7.2 Hz), 1.93 (s,3H, OCH₃), 1.94 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 2.03 (s, 3H, OCH), 2.14 (s, 3H, NAc),3.5-4.2 (m, 14H, CH₂O, H-2, H-5, H-6), 4.67 (d, 1H, H-1, J₁₋₂=8.4 Hz),5.04 (dd, 1H³, J₃₋₄=3.2 Hz, J₃₋₂=11.2 Hz), 5.33 (d, 1H-4, J₃₋₄=3.2 Hz);¹³C NMR (MeOD): 15.4, 20.5, 2*20.6, 22.9, 51.6, 54.8, 62.7, 67.6, 68.2,70.0, 70.9, 71.6, 71.8, 72.3, 102.8, 171.7, 2*172.1, 173.5; HRMS (MALDI)for C₂₀H₃₄NO₁₁ [M+H]⁺, calcd 464.2132 found 464.2141.

Compound 8 was dissolved in 10 mL of methanol and 10 mL of water, thenAmberlit IRN78 resin was added. The mixture was stirred 3 h at 20° C.,then filtrated and evaporated under reduce pressure. (yield: 9=77%).

Compound 9: ¹H NMR (MeOD): 1.2 (t, 3H, J_(H-H)=6.8 Hz), 1.99 (s, 3H,NAc), 3.4-4.0 (m, 16H, CH₂O, H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, H-6), 4.45 (d, 1H, H-1,J₁₋₂=8.4 Hz); ¹³C NMR (MeOD): 15.4, 23.1, 54.3, 62.6, 67.6, 69.7, 69.8,71.0, 71.6, 71.7, 73.6, 76.8, 103.1, 174.2; HRMS (MALDI) for C₁₄H₂₈NO₈[M+H]⁺, calcd 338.1815 found 338.1819.

Compound 10 (100 mg, 0.052 mmol) was dissolved in dry ethanol, then APTS(10 mg, 0.052 mmol) was added followed by the addition of Pd—C (10% w).After three vacuum/H₂ cycles the reaction was stirred overnight at 20°C. under H₂ atmosphere. The solution was then filtrated and evaporatedunder reduce pressure. The reduction of the azoture was confirmed by TLCand ¹H NMR. After evaporation, 10 mL of methanol and 10 mL of water wereadded to the crude product, followed by the addition of Amberlite IRN78resin. The reaction was stirred 3 h at 20° C., then filtrated andevaporated under reduce pressure. (yield: 12=76%).

Compound 12: ¹H NMR (MeOD): 1.99 (s, 9H, NAc), 2.79 (t, 6H, CH₂CO,J_(H-H)=6 Hz), 3.22 (s, 2H, CH₂NH₂), 3.4-4.0 (m, 66H, CH₂O, H-2, H-3,H-4, H-5, H-6), 4.44 (d, 3H, H-1, J₁₋₂=8.4 Hz), ¹³C NMR (MeOD): 3*23.1,3*37.6, 3*40.4, 45.7, 3*54.3, 61.2, 3*62.6, 3*68.0, 3*69.7, 3*69.8,3*70.2, 3*70.7, 3*71.4, 3*71.5, 3*71.6, 3*73.5, 3*76.8, 3*130.1,3*174.0, 3*174.1, 175.35; HRMS (MALDI) for C₅₇H₁₀₅N₈O₃₁ [M+H]⁺, calcd1397.6886 found 1397.6803.

Compound 12 (64 mg, 0.18 mmol) was dissolved in dry DMF, thenp-phenylene diisothiocyanate (175 mg, 0.9 mmol) was added and thereaction was stirred during 2 h at 20° C. under N₂ atmosphere. Thesolution was then evaporated under reduce pressure. The crude was firstwashed with DCM to remove the majority of the p-phenylenediisothiocyanate and then purified by preparative HPLC. (yield: 13=8%).

Compound 13: ¹H NMR (MeOD): 2.00 (s, 9H, NAc), 2.46 (t, 6H, CH₂CO,J_(H-H)=6 Hz), 3.30-4.20 (m, 66H, CH₂O, H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, H-6), 4.28(s, 21H, CH₂NH₂), 4.46 (d, 3H, H-1, J₁₋₂=8.4 Hz), 7.29 (d, 2H, J_(H-H)=9Hz), 7.60 (d, 2H, J_(H-H)=9 Hz); HRMS (MALDI) for C₆₅H₁₀₈N₁₀O₃₁NaS₂[M+Na]⁺, calcd 1611.6521 found 1611.6487.

14 (250 mg, 0.49 mmol) was dissolved in dry ethanol, then APTS (94.1 mg,0.49 mmol) was added followed by the addition of 100% of Pd—C (10% w).After three vacuum/H₂ cycles the reaction was stirred overnight at 20°C. under H₂ atmosphere. The solution was then filtrated and evaporatedunder reduce pressure. The reduction of the azoture was confirmed by TLCand ¹H NMR. After evaporation, 10 mL of methanol and 10 mL of water wereadded to the crude product, followed by the addition of Amberlite 1RN78resin. The reaction was stirred 3 h at 20° C., then filtrated andevaporated under reduce pressure. (yield: 16=86%).

Compound 16: ¹H NMR (MeOD): 2.80 (t, 2H, CH₂NH₂, J_(H-H)=5.4 Hz),3.5-4.0 (m, 16H, CH₂O, H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, H-6), 4.81 (d, 1H, H-1,J₁₋₂=1.8 Hz); HRMS (MALDI) for C₁₂H₂₆NO₈ [M+H]⁺, calcd 311.1603 found311.1600.

16 (105 mg, 0.34 mmol) was dissolved in dry DMF, then p-phenylenediisothiocyanate (325 mg, 1.7 mmol) was added and the reaction wasstirred during 2 h at 20° C. under N₂ atmosphere. The solution was thenevaporated under reduce pressure and purified by flash chromatography(DCM/MeOH from 100/0 to 80/20). (yield: 17=85%).

Compound 17: ¹H NMR (MeOD): 3.5-4.0 (m, 18H, CH₂O, CH₂N, H-2, H-3, H-4,H-5, H-6), 4.82 (d, 1H, H-1, J₁₋₂=1.8 Hz); 7.26 (d, 2H, J_(H-H)=8.8 Hz),7.52 (d, 2H, J_(H-H)=8.8 Hz); HRMS (MALDI) for C₂₀H₂₉N₃O₈NaS₂ [M+Na]⁺,calcd 526.1302 found 526.1294.

3 (25 mg, 0.071 mmol) was dissolved in dry DMF, then 2,6 pyridinediisothiocyanate (68 mg, 0.9 mmol) was added and the reaction wasstirred during 2 h at 20° C. under N₂ atmosphere. The solution was thenevaporated under reduce pressure washed several times with CH₃CN andDCM. (yield: 18=42%).

Compound 18: ¹H NMR (DMSO): 1.79 (s, 3H, NAc), 3.2-4.6 (m, 18H, CH₂O,H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, H-6), 4.28 (d, 1H, H-1, J₁₋₂=8.4 Hz), 7.07 (d, 1H,J_(H-H)=7.5 Hz), 7.16 (d, 1H, J_(H-H)=8.1 Hz), 7.60 (m, NH), 7.86 (t,1H, J_(H-H)=8.1 Hz); HRMS (MALDI) for C₂₁H₃₂N₅O₈S₂ [M+H]⁺, calcd546.1697 found 546.1692.

3 (25 mg, 0.071 mmol) was dissolved in dry DMF, then 1,4 naphtalenediisothiocyanate (86 mg, 0.355 mmol) was added and the reaction wasstirred during 2 h at 20° C. under N₂ atmosphere. The solution was thenevaporated under reduce pressure and purified by flash chromatography(DCM/MeOH from 100/0 to 80/20). (yield: 19=58%).

Compound 19: ¹H NMR (DMSO): 1.80 (s, 3H, NAc), 3.2-4.6 (m, 18H, CH₂O,H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, H-6), 4.29 (d, 1H, H-1, J₁₋₂=8.4 Hz), 7.6-8.1 (m,8H, 6H_(arom), 2 NH), 9.83 (m, 1H, NH); HRMS (MALDI) for C₂₆H₃₄N₄O₈NaS₂[MNa]⁺, calcd 617.1717 found 617.1716.

Compound 20 (500 mg, 1.28 mmol) was dissolved in dry DCM, then2-(2-Ethoxyethoxy)ethanol (174 μL, 1.28 mmol) and TFA-Ag (424 mg, 1.92mmol) were added in the solution. SnCl₄ (1M in CH₂Cl₂, 3.84 mL, 3.84mmol) was added dropwise (within 30 min) at room temperature to thestirred solution and was stirred during 3 h at 20° C. under N₂atmosphere. The solution was then washed respectively with saturatedaqueous NaHCO₃, water and brine, dried over MgSO₄ and filtered. Thesolution was then evaporated under reduce pressure and purified by flashchromatography (DCM/MeOH from 100/0 to 95/5). (yield: 21=73%). Theglycosylation was confirmed by TLC and mass spectroscopy and thencompound 21 (150 mg, 0.323 mmol) was dissolved in 10 mL of methanol and10 mL of water, then Amberlit 1RN78 resin was added. The mixture wasstirred 3 h at 20° C., then filtrated and evaporated under reducepressure, (yield: 22=77%).

Compound 22: ¹H NMR (MeOD): 1.19 (t, 3H, J_(H-H)=6.9 Hz), 3.4-4.0 (m,16H, CH₂O, H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, H-6), 4.79 (d, 1H, H-1, J₁₋₂=1.8 Hz);HRMS (MALDI) for C₂₀H₂₉N3O₈NaS₂ [M+Na]⁺, calcd 526.1302 found 526.1294.

Example 2: Transduction of Human Primary Hepatocytes by a ChemicallyModified AAV2

2.1. AAV2 Production and Purification

AAV2 vectors were produced from two plasmids: pHelper, PDP2-KANAencoding AAV Rep2-Cap2 and adenovirus helper genes (E2A, VA RNA, and E4)and pVector ss-CAG-eGFP. All vectors were produced by transienttransfection of HEK293 cell % with calcium phosphate-HeBS method. Vectorproduced cells were harvested for 48 hours after transfection andtreated firstly with Triton-1% and benzonase (25 U/mL) for 1 hour at 37°C. After 1 h of incubation at 37° C., the bulk was centrifuged at 2000rpm for 20 min and subjected to freeze-thaw cycles to release vectorparticles. The cellular debris was removed by centrifugation at 2500 rpmfor 15 min. Cell lysates were precipitated with PEG overnight andclarified by centrifugation at 4000 rpm for 1 hour. The precipitateswere then incubated with benzonase for 30 min at 37° C. and collectedafter centrifugation at 10000 g for 10 min at 4° C. Vectors werepurified by double cesium chloride (CsCl) gradient ultracentrifugation.The viral suspension was then subjected to four successive rounds ofdialysis under slight stirring in a Slide-a-Lyzer cassette (Pierce)against dPBS (containing Ca°⁺ and Mg⁺°).

2.2. Coupling and Purification (According to the Invention and withComparative Reactants)

AAV2-GFP (1E12 vg, 2.49 nmol) was added to a solution of TRIS bufferpH=9.3 containing fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) of formula

(outside invention), 6 (invention), 9 (comparative), 13 (invention), 16(comparative), 17 (invention), 18 (invention), 19 (invention) or 22(comparative) at different molar ratios (from 3E5 to 1.5E7 equivalents)and incubated during 4 h at 20′° C., The solutions containing thevectors were then dialyzed against dPBS+0.001% Pluronic to remove freemolecules that were non-binded to the AAV capsid.

2.3. Viral Genome Extraction

3 μL of AAV2 or chemically modified AAV2 were treated with 20 units ofDNase I (Roche #04716728001) at 37° C. for 45 min to remove residual DNAin vector samples. After the treatment with DNase 1, 20 μL of proteinaseK 20 mg/mL (MACHEREY-NAGEL #740506) was then added and incubated at 70°C. for 20 min. Extraction column (NucleoSpin® RNA Virus) were then usedto extract DNA from purified AAV vectors.

2.4. Quantitative Real Time PCR Analysis

Quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) was performed with a StepOnePlus™Real-Time PCR System Upgrade (Life technologies). All PCRs wereperformed in a 20 μL final volume PCR including primers, probe, PCRMaster Mix (TaKaRa) and 5 μL of template DNA (plasmid standard, orsample DNA). qPCR was carried out with an initial denaturation step at95° C. for 20 seconds, followed by 45 cycles of denaturation at 95° C.for 1 second and annealing/extension at 56° C. for 20 seconds. PlasmidStandard were generated with seven serial dilutions (containing 10⁸ to10² copies of plasmid) of a plasmid pTR-UF-11 (ATCC @ MBA-33™)linearized by Sca-I Restriction Enzyme.

2.5. Western Blotting

All vectors were denatured at 100° C. using laemmli sample buffer for 5min and separated by SDS-PAGE 10% Tris-Glycine polyacrylamide gels (LifeTechnologies). Precision plus Protein All Blue Standards (BioRad) wasused as a molecular-weight size marker. After transferring the proteinsto nitrocellulose membrane using a Transfer buffer (25 mM tris/192 mMGlycine/0.1 (w/v) SDS/20% MeOH) for 1 hour at 150 mA in a Trans-Blot SDSemi-Dry Transfer Cell (Bio-Rad), the membrane was saturated with 5%semi-skimmed milk in PBS-Tween (0.1%) or with 1% gelatin, 0.1% Igepal inPBS-Tween (0.01%) during 2 h at RT. After saturation, the membrane wasprobed with antisera to AAV2 and chemically modified AAV2 (polyclonal,B1 monoclonal or Anti-Fluorescein-AP) or with FITC-Soybean Agglutinin orFITC-Concanavalin A overnight at 4° C. Three washings were carried outbetween each stage to remove unbound reagents with PBS-Tween (0.1%) for15 min at RT. Bands were visualized by chemiluminescence using alkalinephosphatase (AP) or horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated secondaryantibodies and captured on X-ray film.

2.6. Immuno Dot-Blot

Non-denatured AAV2 and chemically modified AAV2 were deposited on anitrocellulose paper soaked briefly in PBS prior to assembling the dotblot manifold (Bio-Rad). Nitrocellulose membrane was treated as forwestern blotting.

2.7. Dynamic Light Scattering

DLS was done using a Malvern zetasizer nano ZS. The calibration wascontrolled beforehand by using 30 and 300 nm solution of Nanosphere sizestandard. 50 μL of each vectors were placed in a specific cuvetteDTS0118 from Malvern and analysed by volume.

2.8. Transduction of Human and Murine Primary Hepatocytes

Murine and human primary hepatocytes and culture medium were purchasedfrom BIOPREDIC international (Rennes, FRANCE). Murine and humanhepatocytes were seeded on a 24-well plastic surface at a density ofapproximately 2.5E5 cells/well. After reception, cell culture medium wasremoved and replaced with 1 mL of basal medium (MIL600) with additives(ADD222) and incubated 2 h in 37° C.-5% CO₂. Murine or human primaryhepatocytes were transduced at MOI of 1E5 by AAV3b, AAV2 or chemicallymodified AAV2 vectors in 0.5 mL of culture medium as indicated in theexamples. Six hours after the transduction 0.5 mL of fresh culturemedium was added in each well. All AAV vectors encoded for GFP. Theculture plates were incubated for 48 hours at 37° C.-5% CO₂ before flowcytometry analysis of GFP positives cells. Cells were dissociated withTrypsin-EDTA (Sigma-Aldrich), fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde andanalysed by BD-LSRII Flow Cytometer (BD Bioscience). All data wereprocessed by FlowJo (V10; Flowjo LLC, Ashland, Oreg.).

2.9. Transduction of the Retina in Rats

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subretinally with 2.5 μl ofthe solution containing either the AAV2 control or the chemicallymodified vectors at a concentration of 1E12 vg/mL. All animals wereinjected bilaterally, in one eye with the AAV2 control and thecontralateral eye with the chemically modified AAV2+17 vector. Twogroups of animals (n=8 per group) were used; one group injected AAV2control vs AAV2+17 at 3e5Eq, and the second group with AAV2 control vsAAV2+17 at 3e6Eq. To follow the fluorescence due to GFP expression inthe eye fundus, a non invasive imaging system was used at different timepoints; from 1 week post-injection up to 1.5 months post-injection.

2.10. Statistical Analysis

All the experiments are shown as mean standard error (SEM). GraphPadPrism 5 software was used for statistical analysis. Data were subjectedto one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Samples were consideredsignificantly different if *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.

2.11. Results and Conclusion

FIG. 1 represents covalent coupling of FITC on the capsid of AAV2 viaprimary amino groups.

-   -   (A) A dose of 1E12 vg of AAV2-GFP vectors were added to a        solution of FITC (1E5 or 3E5 eq) in TBS buffer (pH 9.3) and        incubated during 4 h at RT. The solutions containing the vectors        were dialyzed against dPBS+0.001% Pluronic to remove free FITC        molecules that were non-binded to the AAV capsid.    -   (B) The same experimental procedure was followed but        substituting FITC by fluorescein (3E5 eq), that do not contain        the reactive residues (—N═C═S), in TBS pH 9.3 as control.    -   (C-E) AAV2 control and samples of AAV2 vectors incubated with        FITC in TBS buffer (AAV2 FITC (IES) and AAV2 FITC (3E5)) or        incubated with fluorescein in TBS buffer (AAV2 Fluo (3E5)) were        analyzed by fluorescence emission and dot blot. To this end, a        total dose of 1E9 vg of each condition was loaded on a        nitrocellulose membrane and analyzed by direct fluorescence        emission (C), by dot blot using an anti-FITC antibody (D) or        using the A20 antibody that recognize the entire capsid (E).    -   (F,G) A dose of 5E8 vg of the same samples was analyzed by        Western blot using a polyclonal antibody to detect denaturated        AAV capsid proteins (F) or using an anti-FITC antibody (G).    -   (H) A total dose of 1E10 vg of each condition was analyzed by        silver nitrate staining, VP1, VP2 and VP3 are the three proteins        constituting the AAV capsid. Protein size is indicated at the        left of the images according to a protein ladder.

The proof of concept of the chemical modification of the capsid of AAV2had been done by using the fluorophore FITC. To this end, two differentquantities of FITC referring to 1E5 or 3E5 molar ratios against AAV2were used (FIG. 4 -A). The same molar ratios of fluorescein as controlwas also used (FIG. 4 -B).

Positive A20 dot, for all the experimental conditions used, indicatedthat AAV2 capsids remain intact after undergoing the reaction withdifferent molar ratios and subsequent dialysis against dPBS+pluronic(FIG. 4 -C). Notably, positive FITC and negative fluorescein dots alsodemonstrated the covalent coupling of FITC on the virus capsids and notits adsorption (FIG. 4 -D). The difference of intensity of the dotshowed by fluorescence analyses on FIG. 4 -E demonstrated that thecovalent coupling of FITC is more efficient with 3E5 than 1E5equivalents of FITC in these conditions.

Western blot analysis was performed to further confirm the impact of themolar ratio on the conjugation of FITC to the AAV capsid subunits. Asbefore, the use of a Polyclonal antibody indicated that AAV2 capsidsubunits remain intact with the molar ratios used (FIG. 4 -F). As shownin FIG. 4 -G, the capsid subunits from AAV2 and AAV2 incubated withfluorescein at the highest ratio did not yield any positive bands afterincubation with the anti-FITC antibody. However, the use of thisantibody clearly showed that the covalent coupling of FITC is moreefficient with 3E5 than IES equivalents of FITC in these conditions(FIG. 4 -G).

In order to visualize all the proteins and to confirm that there is nodegradation during the chemical process, a silver staining of thedifferent conditions was also performed.

As shown in FIG. 4-11 , it can be observed in all the conditions testeda more intense VP3 band as compared to VP1 and VP2. It also indicatedthat AAV2 capsid subunits remain intact after undergoing the reactionand subsequent dialysis against dPBS+pluronic.

FIG. 2 represents an identification of the reactive function for thecovalent coupling of GalNAc ligands on the capsid of AAV2 via primaryamino groups.

-   -   (A) A dose of 1E12 vg of AAV2-GFP vectors were added to a        solution of compound 4 (containing a GalNAc ligand with a —N═C═S        reactive function) or compound 6 (containing a GalNAc ligand        with an Aryl-N═C═S reactive function) (3E5 eq) in TBS buffer (pH        9.3) and incubated during 4 h at RT. After the incubation,        vectors were dialyzed against dPBS+0.001% Pluronic to remove        free GalNAc ligands molecules that were non-binded to the AAV        capsid. The same experimental procedure was followed with        compound 9 (3E5 eq), that do not contain the reactive residues        (—N═C═S), in TBS pH 9.3 as control.    -   (B,C) AAV2 control and samples of AAV2 vectors incubated with        GalNAc ligands in TBS buffer (AAV2+4, AAV2+6 and AAV2+9) were        analyzed by dot blot. To this end, a total dose of 1E10 vg of        each conditions was loaded on a nitrocellulose membrane and        labeled using the A20 antibody that recognize the entire        capsid (B) or using the soybean-FITC lectin that recognizes        N-acetylgalactosamine sugar (C).

In order to determine the optimal coupling function on ligand for theanchor on the surface of the capsid of AAV2, 3 compounds weresynthetized having a —NCS (4) or an aryl-NCS (6) (like for FITC) andanother (9) without any reactive function to ensure the covalentcoupling of these hepatic ligands and not their adsorption on thesurface of the capsid (FIG. 2 -A).

For the validation of the covalent coupling of these hepatic ligands onAAV2 dot blot techniques was used. Positive A20 dot, for all theexperimental conditions used, indicated that AAV2 capsids remain intactafter undergoing the reaction and subsequent dialysis againstdPBS+pluronic (FIG. 2 -B). Positive Soybean Lectin dot (known tointeract with GalNAc residue) detected with the compound 6 demonstratedthat in these conditions the aryl-NCS is the only coupling function thatreacted with the amino group on the capsid of AAV2. As observed withfluorescein, no detection was observed with compound 9 thereforevalidating the covalent coupling and not the adsorption of compound 6 onthe surface of the capsid of AAV2 (FIG. 2 -C).

The combined use of TBS buffer and ligand having an aryl-NCS functionallow the covalent coupling of different molecule on the surface of AAV2in conditions that have no adverse effect on the vector.

FIG. 3 represents covalent coupling of GalNAc ligands on the capsid ofAAV2 via primary amino groups.

-   -   (A) A dose of 1E12 vg of AAV2-GFP vectors were added to a        solution of compound 6 (a GalNAc monomer ligand with a        Aryl-N═C═S reactive function) or compound 13 (a GalNAc trimer        ligand with a Aryl-N═C═S reactive function) (3E5 eq) in TBS        buffer (both at pH 9.3) and incubated during 4 h at RT. After        the incubation, vectors were dialyzed against dPBS+0.001%        Pluronic to remove free GalNAc ligands molecules that were        non-binded to the AAV capsid. The same experimental procedure        was followed with compound 9 (3E5 eq), that do not contain the        reactive residues (Aryl-N═C═S), in TBS pH 9.3 as control.    -   (B,C) AAV2 control and samples of AAV2 vectors incubated with        GalNAc ligands in TBS buffer (AAV2+6, AAV2+9 and AAV2+13) were        analyzed by dot blot. To this end, a total dose of 1E10 vg of        each conditions was loaded on a nitrocellulose membrane and        labeled using the A20 antibody that recognize the entire        assembled capsid (B) or using the soybean-FITC lectin that        recognizes N-acetylgalactosamine sugar (C).    -   (D,E) AAV2 control and samples of AAV2 vectors incubated with        GalNAc ligands in TBS buffer (AAV2+6, AAV2+9 and AAV2+13) were        analyzed by western blot. A total dose of 1E10 vg of each        conditions was loaded on a nitrocellulose membrane and labeled        by a polyclonal antibody to detect denaturated AAV capsid        proteins (D) or using the soybean-FITC lectin (E). VP1, VP2 and        VP3 are the three proteins constituting the AAV capsid. Protein        size is indicated at the left of the images according to a        protein ladder.

After the validation of the chemical coupling of 6 and its aryl-NCSfunction, a trimer GalNAc, i.e compound 13, compound having the sameanchor function, was also tested. This specific trimer had beendescribed to improve the interaction with the ASPGr on the surface ofhepatocytes (FIG. 3 -A).

For the validation of the covalent coupling of these hepatic ligands onAAV2 dot and western blot techniques were used. Positive A20 dot, forall the experimental conditions used, indicated that AAV2 capsids remainintact after undergoing the reaction and subsequent dialysis againstdPBS+pluronic (FIG. 3 -B). Positive Soybean Lectin dot (known tointeract with GalNAc residue) detected with the compounds 6 and 13. Asobserved with fluorescein, no detection was observed with compound 9therefore validating the covalent coupling and not the adsorption of 6and 13 on the surface of the capsid of AAV2 (FIG. 3 -C).

Western blot analysis was performed to confirm the conjugation of 6 and13 on the primary amino group on the AAV2 capsid subunits. The use of aPolyclonal antibody indicated that AAV2 capsid subunits remain intactwith the different ligands used on this coupling step (FIG. 3 -D). Asshown in FIG. 3 -E, the capsid subunits from AAV2 and AAV2 incubatedwith 9 did not yield any positive bands after incubation with thespecific Soybean Lectin. However, the use of this lectin with compounds6 and 13 clearly showed positive bands at the correct molecular weightsof VP1, VP2, and VP3, demonstrating the covalent coupling of theseGalNAc ligands on the three subunits of the AAV capsid.

FIG. 4 represents the transduction of human primary hepatocytes withAAV2 and AAV2 vectors chemically modified with GalNAc ligands. Humanprimary hepatocytes (2E5 cell/well) were incubated in P24 plates andwere transduced with AAV2 control (immediately upon thawing).GalNAc-AAV2 (AAV2+6, AAV2+13) at a MOI of 1E5. All AAV vectors encodedfor GFP. The percentage of GFP positive cells have been measured by FACSanalysis 48 h after the transduction. Non transduced cells (cells) wereused as a control for fluorescence background. Four replicates of eachcondition have been analyzed by ANOVA test (***p<0.001, **p<0.01). Dataare represented as mean±SD.

In order to evaluate the efficiency of the chemical modification withhepatic ligand on AAV2, the transduction of these modified ornon-modified particles on human primary hepatocytes was evaluated. Asshown in FIG. 4 , the chemical modification of the capsid of AAV2 withthe compound 6 increased the percentage of GFP positive cells by afactor 4 which is statistically significant in comparison with AAV2which followed the same experimental procedure. The chemical coupling of13 did not resulted in the same increasing of the percentage of GFPpositive cells but this increasing is statistically significant.

FIG. 5 represents the effect of the number of equivalents of ligands onthe efficacy of coupling via primary amino group (Example with FITC).

-   -   (A) A dose of 1E12 vg of AAV2-GFP vectors was added to a        solution of FITC (3E5 eq, 3E5 eq-10× (3E5 eq but with the volume        of the reaction reduced 1/10), 3E6 eq, 1.5E7 eq) in TBS buffer        at pH 9.3 and incubated during 4 h at RT. The solutions        containing the vectors were dialyzed against dPBS+0.001%        Pluronic to remove free FITC molecules that were non-binded to        the AAV capsid.    -   (B) The same experimental procedure was followed but        substituting FITC by fluorescein (1.5E7 eq), that do not contain        the reactive residues (N═C═S), in TBS pH 9.3 as control. (C,D)        AAV2 control and samples of AAV2 vectors incubated with FITC in        TBS buffer (AAV2 FITC (3E5), AAV2 FITC (3E5-10×), AAV2 FITC        (3E6) and AAV2 FITC (1.5E7)) or incubated with fluorescein in        TBS buffer (AAV2 Fluo (1.5E7)) were analyzed by dot blot. A        total dose of 1E9 vg of each conditions was loaded on a        nitrocellulose membrane and labeled by the A20 antibody that        recognize the entire capsid (C) or using an anti-FITC antibody        (D).    -   (E,F) A dose of 5E8 vg of the same samples was analyzed by        Western blot using a polyclonal antibody to detect denaturated        AAV capsid proteins (E) or using an anti-FITC antibody (F). VP1,        VP2 and VP3 are the three proteins constituting the AAV capsid.        Protein size is indicated at the left of the images according to        a protein ladder.    -   (G) HeLa cells (2E5 cell/well) were incubated in cell stacks and        were transduced with AAV2 FITC (3E5), AAV2 FITC (3E6) and AAV2        FITC (1.5E7)) at a MOI of 1E5. All AAV vectors encoded for GFP.        Confocal microscopy analyses were done after 4 h of        transduction, to avoid the expression of the GFP, by        visualization of the green FITC fluorescence and red        fluorescence A20 immunolabeling (A20 primary antibody and A1647        secondary antibody).

To modulate the number of ligand on the AAV2 the molar ratio of FITCused on the TBS buffer was increased and evaluated if it had aninfluence on the number of molecule coupled on the surface of the capsidof AAV2. To saturate the capsid of AAV2 with FITC, this ratio wasincreased from 3E5 to 1.5E7.

Dot and western blot analysis was performed to further confirm theimpact of the molar ratio on the conjugation of FITC to the AAV capsidsubunits. As before, the use of A20 and a Polyclonal antibody indicatedthat AAV2 capsid subunits remain intact with the different molar ratiosused (FIG. 5 -C,E). As shown in FIG. 5 -D,F, the capsid subunits fromAAV2 and AAV2 incubated with fluorescein at the highest ratio did notyield any dot or positive bands after incubation with the anti-FITCantibody. However, the use of this antibody clearly showed that thecovalent coupling of FITC is more efficient when its molar ratioincreased (FIG. 5 -F). It is also important to note that doing thecoupling with 3E5 molar ratio of FITC in 10×TBS buffer allowed thecoupling of a more important number of this fluorophore on the capsid ofthis vector.

For AAV2-FITC (3E5), green FITC fluorescence (J) and red fluorescenceA20 immunolabeling (K) were detected, colocalisation of FITC andA20-A1647 was observed in yellow by merging images obtained in green andred channels (L) demonstrating the covalent coupling of FITC on thecapsid of AAV2. On the contrary, AAV2-FITC (3E6) and AAV2-FITC (1.5E7)samples (S,V) were not recognized by A20 immunolabeling (K) and, thus,colocalisation of FITC and A20-A1647 was not observed (T,U,W,X). Theseresults suggested that increased number of FITC ligands on the surfaceof the capsid of AAV2 could reduce the interaction with A20 antibodiesand suggest the possibility that modified capsids have less interactionswith surface recognition antibodies in general.

FIG. 6 represents the effect of the number of equivalents of GalNAcligands on the efficacy of coupling via primary amino group (Examplewith 6 and 13) and the transduction of murine primary hepatocytes.

-   -   (A, B) A dose of 1E12 vg of AAV2-GFP vectors was added to a        solution of 6 and 13 (3E5 and 3E6 eq) in TBS buffer at pH 9.3        and incubated during 4 h at RT. The solutions containing the        vectors were dialyzed against dPBS+0.001% Pluronic to remove        free GalNAc ligands molecules that were non-binded to the AAV        capsid.

AAV2 control and samples of AAV2 vectors incubated with GalNAc ligandsin TBS buffer were analyzed by western blot. A total dose of 1E10 vg ofeach conditions was loaded on a nitrocellulose membrane and labeled by apolyclonal antibody to detect denaturated AAV capsid proteins (A) orusing the soybean-FITC lectin (B). VP1, VP2 and VP3 are the threeproteins of the AAV capsid. Protein size is indicated at the left of theimages according to a protein ladder.

-   -   (C) transduction of murine primary hepatocytes with AAV2 and        AAV2 vectors chemically modified with GalNAc ligands. Murine        primary hepatocytes (2E5 cell/well) were incubated in P24 plates        and were transduced with AAV2 control (immediately upon        thawing), GalNAc-AAV2 (AAV2+6 (3E5 and 3E6 eq)) at a MOI of 1E5.        All AAV vectors encoded for GFP under the control of CAG        promoter. The percentage of GFP positive cells was measured by        FACS analysis 72 h post-transduction. Non transduced cells        (cells) were used as a control (i.e. fluorescence background).        Three replicates of each condition have been analyzed by ANOVA        test (***p<0.001, *p<0.01). Data are represented as mean±SD.

To modulate the number of ligand on the AAV2, the molar ratio of 6 and13 used on the TBS buffer was increased and evaluated if it had aninfluence on the number of molecule coupled on the surface of the capsidof AAV2. To saturate the capsid of AAV2 with 6 and 13, this ratio wasincreased from 3E5 to 3E6 equivalent (Eq).

Western blot analysis was performed to further confirm the impact of themolar ratio on the conjugation of 6 and 13 to the AAV capsid subunits.As shown before, the use of a polyclonal antibody (against capsid)indicated that AAV2 capsid subunits remain intact with the differentmolar ratios used (FIG. 6 -A). As shown in FIG. 6 -B, the use of theSoybean lectin clearly showed that the covalent coupling of 6 and 13 wasmore efficient when the molar ratio increased from 3E5 to 3E6. In orderto evaluate the efficiency of the chemical modification with the hepaticligand on AAV2, the transduction of these modified or non-modified AAV2particles on murine primary hepatocytes was evaluated. As shown in FIG.6 -C, the chemical modification of the capsid of AAV2 with the compound6 at two doses (3E5 and 3E6 eq) increased the percentage of GFP positivecells by a factor of 2 (3E5) and 6 (3E6) which is statisticallysignificant in comparison with AAV2 control vector.

FIG. 7 . Effect of the number of equivalents of Mannose ligands on theefficacy of coupling via primary amino group (Example with 17) and thetransduction of the retina in rats.

-   -   (A) A dose of 1E12 vg of AAV2-GFP vectors were added to a        solution of compound 17 (a mannose monomer ligand with a        Aryl-N═C═S reactive function) (3E5 and 3E6 eq) in TBS buffer        (both at pH 9.3) and incubated during 4 h at RT. After the        incubation, vectors were dialyzed against dPBS+0.001% Pluronic        to remove free mannose ligands molecules that were non-binded to        the AAV capsid. The same experimental procedure was followed        with compound 22 (3E6 eq), that do not contain the reactive        residues (Aryl-N═C═S), in TBS pH 9.3 as control.    -   (B, C) AAV2 control and samples of AAV2 vectors incubated with        mannose ligands in TBS buffer were analyzed by western blot. A        total dose of 1E10 vg of each conditions was loaded on a        nitrocellulose membrane and labeled by a polyclonal antibody to        detect denaturated AAV capsid proteins (B) or using the        Concanavalin A lectin that recognize specifically the mannose        group (C). VP1, VP2 and VP3 are the three proteins constituting        the AAV capsid. Protein size is indicated at the left of the        images according to a protein ladder.    -   (D) Direct visualization of GFP fluorescence in the eye fundus        of rats injected subretinally with AAV2 control (AAV2) or with        AAV2 incubated with mannose ligand (compound 17) at two        different doses (3e5Eq and 3e6Eq). Images were taken at        different time points; from 1 week post-injection up to 1.5        months post-injection using non invasive techniques.

To modulate the number of mannose ligand on the AAV2 surface the molarratio of 17 used on the TBS buffer was increased and evaluated if it hadan influence, as GalNAc ligands, on the number of molecule coupled onthe surface of the capsid of AAV2. To saturate the capsid of AAV2 with17 this ratio was increased from 3E5 to 3E6.

Western blot analysis was performed to further confirm the impact of themolar ratio on the conjugation of 17 to the AAV capsid subunits. Asbefore, the use of a Polyclonal antibody indicated that AAV2 capsidsubunits remain intact with the different molar ratios used (FIG. 7 -B).As shown in FIG. 7 -C, the use of the Concanavalin A lectin clearlyshowed that the covalent coupling of 17 is more efficient when the molarratio increased from 3E5 to 3E6.

Non invasive eye funduscopy showed GFP expression in the retina of bothAAV2 control and AAV2+17 treated eyes during the whole study (FIG. 7D).Images on the left are representative of the eyes treated with AAV2+17at a dose of 3e5Eq and the intensity of the fluorescence was similarcompare to AAV2 control (contralateral eyes). However, on the rightimages it could be observed that the eyes treated with AAV2+17 at a doseof 3e6Eq had a broaden and brighter GFP intensity at all time pointscompare to control AAV2 treated contralateral eyes. It may be noticedthat pictures taken at 3 weeks, 1 month and 1.5 months from the eyestreated with AAV2+17 at the dose 3e6Eq were adjusted to avoid saturationof the signal because the fluorescence signal was much higher thancontralateral eyes.

FIG. 8 . Identification of different reactive function for the covalentcoupling of GalNAc ligands on the capsid of AAV2 via primary aminogroups.

-   -   (A) A dose of 1E12 vg of AAV2-GFP vectors were added to a        solution of compound 18 or 19 (3E6 eq) in TBS buffer (pH 9.3)        and incubated during 4 h at RT. After the incubation, vectors        were dialyzed against dPBS+0.001% Pluronic to remove free GalNAc        ligands that were non-binded to the AAV capsid.    -   (B,C) A dose of 1E10 vg of each samples was analyzed by Western        blot using a polyclonal antibody to detect denaturated AAV        capsid proteins (B) or using the soybean lectin (C).

In order to determine different coupling function on ligand to allowproper anchoring on the surface of the capsid of AAV, two compounds, 18(pyridine isothiocyanate derivative) and 19 (naphthalene isothiocyanatederivative), were synthetized (FIG. 8 -A).

Western blot analysis was performed to confirm the conjugation of 18 and19 on the primary amino group on the AAV2 capsid subunits. The use of aPolyclonal antibody indicated that AAV2 capsid subunits remain intactwith the different ligands used on this coupling step (FIG. 8 -B). Theuse of the soybean lectin (that recognize the GalNAc group) withcompounds 18 and 19 showed positive bands at the correct molecularweights of VP1, VP2, and VP3, demonstrating the covalent coupling ofthese GalNAc ligands on the three subunits of the AAV capsid.

The combined use of TBS buffer and ligand having an aryl-NCS,polyaryl-NCS and heteroaryl-NCS function allow the covalent coupling ofdifferent molecules on the surface of AAV2 in conditions that have noadverse effect on the vector.

FIG. 9 represents covalent coupling of 6 on the capsid of AAV3b viaprimary amino groups.

A dose of 1E12 vg of AAV3b-GFP vectors were added to a solution of 6(3E6 eq) in TBS buffer (pH 9.3) and incubated during 4 h at RT. Thesolutions containing the vectors were dialyzed against dPBS+0.001%Pluronic to remove free 6 molecules that were non-binded to the AAVcapsid.

-   -   (A,B) A total dose of 1E9 vg of each condition was loaded on a        nitrocellulose membrane and analysed by dot blot using the A20        antibody that recognize the assembled capsid (A) an the soybean        lectin (B).    -   (C,D) A dose of 1E10 vg of the same samples was analyzed by        Western blot using a polyclonal antibody to detect denaturated        AAV capsid proteins (C) or using the soybean lectin (D).

The proof of concept of the chemical modification of the capsid of AAV3bwas done by using the compound 6 as for AAV2. To this end, 3E6 molarratios of 6 against AAV3b were used.

Positive A20 dot, for all the experimental conditions used, indicatedthat AAV3b capsids remain intact after the chemical reaction (FIG. 9-A). Notably, positive dots with soybean lectine also demonstrated thecovalent coupling of 6 on the AAV capsids (FIG. 9 -B).

Western blot analysis was performed to further confirm the coupling of 6to the AAV3b capsid subunits. As shown before, the use of a polyclonalantibody indicated that AAV3b capsid subunits remained intact (FIG. 9-C). As shown in FIG. 9 -D, the use of the soybean lectin showed thecovalent coupling of 6 on those AAV capsid subunits.

CONCLUSION

The experimental conditions used for the coupling clearly showed that itis possible to modulate the coupling of a ligand on the surface of thecapsid of AAV2 and AAV3b. New—AAV-derived vectors are thus available bychemically coupling ligands of any nature on the capsid surface.Specific activity and therapeutic index of the vectors may also beimproved by this method.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectorparticle comprising a ligand covalently linked to a primary amino groupof a capsid polypeptide via a CSNH— bond, wherein the ligand comprisesan arylene or heteroarylene radical covalently bound to the ligand,wherein the ligand is a targeting ligand, and wherein the ligandpromotes infection of a cell of the eye.
 2. The AAV particle of claim 1,wherein the cell of the eye is a cell of the retina.
 3. The AAV particleof claim 2, wherein the cell of the retina is a photoreceptor or aretinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cell.
 4. The AAV particle of claim 1,wherein the ligand comprises a mannose, galactose orN-acetylgalactosamine moiety.
 5. The AAV particle of claim 1, whereinthe ligand comprises a bond or a spacer (X) between said ligand and saidarylene or heteroarylene radical.
 6. The AAV particle of claim 5,wherein the spacer (X) represents: a group

wherein n represents an integer from 3 to
 20. 7. The AAV particle ofclaim 1, wherein the ligand has the following formula (D):


8. The AAV particle of claim 1, wherein the capsid polypeptide is awild-type capsid polypeptide from a naturally-occurring AAV serotype. 9.The AAV particle of claim 1, wherein the capsid polypeptide is arecombinant capsid polypeptide.
 10. A pharmaceutical compositioncomprising the AAV particle of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier or excipient.